The Jefferson Davis County Board of Supervisors met for the first September meeting Tuesday at the board room in Prentiss. Bro. Jessie Holloway opened with prayer before the minutes were approved.

Albert Turnage announced his candidacy for Chancery Court Judge District 13 Post 1 to the board, which includes Jefferson Davis, Covington, Lawrence, Simpson and Smith counties.

Superintendent Ike Hayes discussed the opening of school and his yearly goals with the board.

The discussion of roof at Red House Voting Precinct/Fire Station was tabled, as was the approval of a quote for cleaning services at the JDC Department of Human Services building.

The board approved increasing the rental fee at the John W. Thompson Building on Highway 42 in Bassfield. The fee will be $450 beginning Jan. 1, 2023, with a $100 deposit required to secure the date requested. If the facility is cleaned after use, $50 will be returned to the renter. The previous cost to rent the building was $250.

A discussion was made regarding the use of the dumpster at the sheriff’s department. The board is looking into ways to lock the dumpster so it cannot be used by anyone outside of the department.

A discussion regarding the county custodians and the county paving were both continued.

A public hearing and special called meeting regarding the budget will be held Sept. 8, at 10 a.m. in the board room. Jefferson Davis County Board of Supervisors plans to increase ad valorem tax millage rate by 7.00 mills from 130.24 mills to 137.24 mills for the next fiscal year. This will increase ad valorem taxes on home, automobile tag, utilities, business fixtures and equipment and rental real property.

The increase in the tax levy of 4.00 mills is necessary because of the funding request by the Jefferson Davis County School District. The increase in the tax levy of the additional 3.00 mills is necessary to fund the general operations of the county.

Any citizen of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi is invited to attend this public hearing on the proposed ad valorem tax increase, proposed budget, and proposed tax levies for fiscal year 2022-2023 and will be allowed to speak for a reasonable amount of time and offer tangible evidence before any vote is taken.

The final adoption of the budget and the ad valorem tax levies will take place on Sept. 14, at 10 a.m. in the boardroom at the Jefferson Davis County Administrative Building.

Jefferson Davis County Engineer Les Dungan opened bids for several projects in the county.

A liquid asphalt bid was awarded to Ergon, Southern Paving, LLC will handle the District 3 paving project. Magco won bids on Sam Graham Road repair in District 4 and culvert replacement on Tolar Road in District 3.

In other news, the board approved the following without opposition before adjourning:

• Approved rescinding board order approving workforce internship program for circuit clerk’s office.

• Approved rescinding board order approving bush hogging the industrial park.

• Approved quote to repair leak in water heaters at the jail-4,800 quote Jones Mechanical.

• Approved Board President signing Computer Software Support Agreement with Delta Computer Systems – price change of $60.00

• Approved Board President signing Agreement for Engineering Services for Sam Graham Road.

• Approved quote for window repair – District 3

• Approved declaring inventory junk District 2, 2009 Ford F-150.

• Approved deleting elections and tax assessor equipment from inventory.

• Approved increase of annual fee for constables per state statute.

• Approved renewal of ECEM Certification for EMA Director – $250.00

• Approved employees attending meetings and conventions.

• Approved transfer of funds from General to 2022 Local Improvements Project District 3

• Approved District 2, District 5 and District 4 purchases with county credit card.

• Approved payment of fire rebate fund to Fire Departments – $65,427.04

Town of Prentiss $7,268.94, Town of Bassfield $14,171.50, Clem $14,544.43, Oakvale $     

7,268.94, Good Hope $ 7,635.34, Granby $ 7,268.94 and 84 West, $ 7,268.94.

• Approved payment of invoices for Southern MS Planning & Development Senior Citizen Social Services.

• Approved travel for FY22 to be published in Prentiss Headlight

• Approved claims.